Benefitting country(ies): Belize

Overview:

To be implemented by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), this twenty-four-month project aims to strengthen community capacity and create a comprehensive inventory of foodways in Belize, which faces threats related to globalization, rapid urbanization and climate change. The project will equip community members and cultural officers with the knowledge and skills to document, inventory and safeguard living heritage, with a particular focus on foodways. It aims to result in an inventory of at least eighty food-related elements of living heritage representing the country’s various cultural groups. Through a phased approach, the project will start with consultations among practitioners, bearers and community representatives to review existing food-related intangible cultural heritage and safeguarding efforts. Training workshops focusing on safeguarding and documenting living heritage will be conducted at the national and district levels. Workshop participants will then conduct community-based inventorying focused on traditional knowledge, recipes, preparation techniques, rituals and associated practices related to food. The project also entails producing educational videos and a campaign to raise awareness about the inventoried elements. The project is expected to contribute to sustainable development by safeguarding Belize’s foodways and culinary traditions and to enhance the country’s disaster risk preparedness and resilience.

22/05/2025 - 31/05/2027 – Preparation of inventories of the intangible cultural heritage of Honduras with the active participation of the communities12/02/2025 - 15/04/2027 – Building capacities on intangible cultural heritage inventorying, safeguarding and awareness raising activities in The Gambia